NY State Libraries Protest Cuts

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Kathy Ishizuka -- School Library Journal, 04/01/2003

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New York library supporters are protesting a 15 percent cut in library funding proposed by Governor George Pataki in his 2003–2004 state budget. Librarians say the $13.3 million cut—intended to offset an $11.5 billion state deficit—would devastate the state's 742 public libraries, which are already struggling with depressed budgets.

The New York Library Association (NYLA) sponsored a March 18 rally on the steps of the state capitol to protest the proposal, which would pare library funding from $88.9 million to $75.6 million. Librarians are angry that library funding has remained flat since 1998, while education funding has risen 36 percent since 1995, says Susan Lehman Keitel, NYLA's executive director. "We're being asked to take a 15 percent cut, which moves us back to 1993 funding levels" in the face of increased usage and expanding technology, she says. Legislators had until April 1 to review and alter Pataki's budget proposal. As of press time, no revisions had been made.